Xi warns resurgence of old problems in "mass line" campaign

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Chinese President Xi Jinping (rear) speaks after hearing a report on the progress of the "mass line" campaign in central China's Henan Province, in Beijing, capital of China, Aug. 27, 2014. (Xinhua/Ju Peng)

BEIJING, Aug. 27 -- Chinese President Xi Jinping Wednesday pledged here long term efforts to improve officials' work style after hearing a report on the progress of the "mass line" campaign in central China's Henan Province.

He said the nation's "mass-line" campaign will be carried out unremittingly to ensure concrete results.

"We must guard against the campaign petering out. With a strong start,we should stay alert to piling up conflicts, crude methods and short-termed effects," Xi said he was briefed by Henan Party chief Guo Gengmao and other officials.

The "mass-line" campaign was launched in June last year by Chinese leaders to boost ties between CPC officials and the public, while cleaning up undesirable work styles such as formalism, bureaucracy, hedonism and extravagance.

As part of the campaign, Xi and six other Standing Committee members of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, are each allocated a county to supervise. Xi, who also holds the position of general secretary of the CPC Central Committee, has been paired with Lankao county in Henan.

He praised what officials in Lankao had done, noting a "significant change" in officials' work styles. Problems such as "face-saving projects,", work avoidance, binge eating and drinking and abuse of power have been reduced, Xi said.

He also warned of "the resurgence of old problems."

"We must adopt a zero-tolerance attitude, thoroughly rectify errors and not fear pain in the short term to make sure there is no resurgence of the old problems," he said.

The Party should guide officials who want to "take chances and lay low until the campaign passes," and help them forsake such illusions to return to the right path on their own free will.

Xi once again spoke of the spirit of Jiao Yulu, a late model official who worked in Lankao in the 1960s and devoted his life to serving the people.

"You have enlivened the spirit of Jiao again," said Xi to officials at the meeting.